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Pneumonia shot and allergic reaction

Some severe illnesses can be caused by pneumococcal disease, in some cases death can even occur. Every year in the States there are more deaths caused by this vaccine than all the other vaccines put together. No one person is immuned to pneumococcal disease, although there is a higher risk for some people. Those that fall into that category are people older than 65, children under 6 and those with some kind of health issuessuch as heart or lung disease, alcoholism, diabetes and HIV infections, to name a few.

Pneumococcal disease may cause pneumonia, bacteremia and meningitis. According to the statistics, one person out of 20 dies because of pneumonia which was cause by pneumococcal. Bacteremia occurs with two people out of ten and meningitis with three out of the same number. People with health issues have an even greater chance of dying.

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine or PPV

This vaccine will keep a person safe from 23 kinds of pneumococcal bacteria. A majority of adults will develop protection from usually every type of bacteria in just two or three weeks after getting the shot. Children under the age of two who have been ill for some time will not have the same response.

Who should receive PPV immunization?

People above the age of 65 and everyone who is older than 2 and has long-term health problems such as diabetes, heart or lung disease or cirrhosis but also people older than two years who have a disease which lowers the body's ability to fight off infections like leukemia, kidney failure, nephrotic syndrome or multiple myeloma. People who are older than 2 and are taking any sort of drug or treatment which lessens the body's ability to fight off infections should receive a PPV immunization shot. Long-term steroids, radiation therapy and some cancer drugs are on that list. In addition, Alaskan Natives and Native American populations should get a PPV shot as well.

How many doses of PPV are needed?

In most cases one dose is enough but there are some people who need a second one. For instance, those with a damaged spleen, AIDS, cancer, leukemia or kidney failure. Those who had an organ or bone marrow transplant as well, plus many more.

Other facts about getting the vaccine

Kids that are healthy in every other way apart from ear or sinus infections do not need to get the vaccine because of those infections. If a woman is pregnant, she should speak to her doctor before getting the shot.


There are no real risks. Nearly half of those who get the shot may experience redness or pain in the place where the vaccine was given. A really small percentage may get a fever or have some allergic reactions.

In cases of hives or heavy breathing, a person should go to the doctor straight away.

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